Integrated multiple valve unit

ABSTRACT

An integrated multiple valve unit is provided as a module of hydraulic circuit components and for uniform pipe line geometry. The unit generally comprises a subplate upon the top surface of which are formed a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats in equally spaced apart relation, and a plurality of stacks each comprised of valve assemblies and a solenoid valve mounted on the subplate in the order named. Any of the valve assemblies which effect various functions may be selected and stacked, depending upon desired hydraulic circuit requirements. Each valve assembly seat is provided with a supply port, a discharge or return port and a pair of intake ports, that is the ports for connection with an actuator or the like, at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of zigzag intake ports which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the mounting seats, and intercommunicated with the corresponding intake ports in the mounting seats. A supply port and a discharge or return port of the subplate are intercommunicated with all of the supply and discharge ports in the mounting seats through a supply passage and a discharge passage, respectively.

United States Patent [1 1 Murata Oct. 23, 1973 INTEGRATED MULTIPLE VALVEUNIT [76] Inventor: l-likaru Murata, Gifu, Japan [22] Filed: July 31,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,299

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 29, 1971 Japan 46/66879 Aug.10, 1971 Japan 46/70943 [52] US. Cl. 137/608 [51] Int. Cl. Fl7d 1/00[58] Field of Search 136/608, 270, 271

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,665,961 5/1972 Bachmann137/608 3,680,589 8/1972 Jeans et al. 136/608 3,513,876 5/1970 Tarbox137/608 X 3,516,436 6/1970 Klaus et al..... 137/608 X 3,556,144 1/1971Bickers et al.. 137/608 X 3,556,147 1/1971 Sizer 137/608 3,589,3876/1971 Raym0nd.... 137/608 X 3,654,960 4/1972 Kieman 137/608 3,658,0884/1972 Jensen et al. 137/608 X 3,709,248 l/1973 Aurich et al 137/608 XPrimary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Saul Jecies [57] ABSTRACT Anintegrated multiple valve unit is provided as a module of hydrauliccircuit components and for uniform pipe line geometry. The unitgenerally .comprises a subplate upon the top surface of which are formeda plurality of valve assembly mounting seats in equally spaced apartrelation, and a plurality of stacks each comprised of valve assembliesand a solenoid valve mounted on the subplate in the order named. Any ofthe valve assemblies which effect various functions may be selected andstacked, depending upon desired hydraulic circuit requirements. Eachvalve assembly seat is provided with a supply port, a discharge orreturn port and a pair of intake ports, that is the ports for connectionwith an actuator or the like, at the positions corresponding to thecorresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of thesubplate are formed a plurality of zigzag intake ports which are spacedapart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal toone half of the spacing between the mounting seats, andintercommunicated with the corresponding intake ports in the mountingseats. A supply port and a discharge or return port of the subplate areintercommunicated with all of the supply and discharge ports in themounting seats through a supply passage and a discharge passage,respectively.

5 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnm 23 ms SHEET UlflF 16 FIG FIIILmiminum 23 ms SHEET 020! 16 FIG 2 PAIENIEnnmzs ma 2.766343 SHEET 030? 16FIG3 PATENTEUUEI 23 I975 SHEEI UMJF 16 FIG 4 FIG IO PAIENIEUncI 23 mm 3.766; 943

SHEEI 080F 16 FIG II PAIENIEnum 23 ms SHEET 110F16 FIG l4 FIG l5PAIENIEBnmza ms 13.766343 SHEEI 130F 16 FIGIB PMENTED um 23 1915 SHEETN0? 16 FIG 2| WWI FI/l' 143% FIG 22 PAIENTEnnm 23 ms SHEET 150? 16 FIG23 FIG 24 FIG26 FIG 25 PATENIEUHBT23 ma 3. 766; 943 sum was 16INTEGRATED MULTIPLE VALVE UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to an integrated multiple valve unit in which aplurality of stacks each comprising a plurality of valve assemblies,which effect various functions, and a solenoid valve are mounted on acommon subplate. The integrated multiple valve unit in accordance withthe present invention serves as a module of hydraulic circuitcomponents, and functions also as a pump unit.

When a plurality of valves are separately and randomly disposed andinterconnected via each other with pipes or tubes in a hydrauliccircuit, such as a pump unit which is used for example as a highhydraulic pressure source, the circuit becomes large in size because ofthe large space required for receiving the pipes, and theinterconnections among the valves with the pipes become very complex. Asa result, the working liquid tends to leak and the maintenance andrepair of the hydraulic circuit components become very difficult. Toovercome these defects, there has been proposed and demonstrated theso-called maniplate system in which the hydraulic circuit componentssuch as valves are mounted on a common mounting plate in which areformed required passages for interconnecting the circuit components.There has been also proposed the socalled manifold plate system whereinthe hydraulic circuit components such as valves are mounted uponmounting plates in which are formed the required passages forinterconnecting the circuit components, and the circuit components withthe mounting plates are stacked. Both the above described systems havesucceeded in simplifying the interconnections between the circuitcomponents, thus overcoming the above described defects to some extent.However, these systems have a common defect in that various kinds ofplates and blocks must be provided for various kinds of hydrauliccircuits which are required. In other words, these prior art systems donot provide modules of hydraulic circuit components which may be used inany hydraulic circuit.

In the attempt to provide standardized modules for hydraulic circuits,there has been proposed a built-up system utilizing the standardsolenoid valves in which all of the ports are located at the specifiedpositions. More particularly, a valve plate is provided with portsformed at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of thestandard solenoid valve, and a valve or valves, which accomplish thedesired functions, are disposed in some of the ports or the passagecommunicated therewith in the valve seat. Thus, standardized valveassemblies are provided, and are stacked on a subplate together with asolenoid valve.

.Therefore, various circuit modules may be provided.

However, the spacing between the ports of the standardized solenoidvalve is extremely small so that the interconnections between thehydraulic circuit components stacked upon the subplate and theconnections with the pump, reservoir, actuators and the like, hecomedifficult as the pipes obstruct each other. To overcome this problem,some passages for connections are formed in each subplate. When it isdesired to collect the intake ports, for example, in the pump unit inone place, the pipes extending from the intake ports of each subplatemust be bent in complex forms with or without joint-fittings, so thatskilled labor and much time are required. Furthermore, the nonuniform orrandom pipe arrangement and the exposure of the pipes to the surroundingatmosphere are not desirable.

Furthermore, in the built-up integrated valve unit, there arises inpractice the problem of the distribution of the working liquid into aplurality of hydraulic circuits, except in the case where only onehydraulic cir-- cuit is formed on the subplate. That is, when it isdesired to distribute the working liquid into a plurality of hydrauliccircuits to actuate a plurality of actuators, and if a breakdown of oneof the hydraulic circuits occurs, the check and repair of the brokencircuit cannot be accomplished without stopping the other normalcircuits. For example, in case of the hydraulic circuits used in thedriving source in a chemical plant or the like, if a breakdown of one ofthe hydraulic circuits occurs, the other normal circuits must be stoppedeven when they are controlling the chemical reactions, thus resulting ina prodigious waste of raw materials. In some standardized solenoidvalves, a pair of intake ports are formed outwardly of a supply port anda pair of discharge ports are formed further outwardly of the pair ofintake ports, so that they are arranged in the form of a pyramid. As thevalve spool is displaced, one of the intake ports is communicated withthe center supply port whereas the other intake port is communicatedwith one of the discharge ports through one of the chambers on bothsides of the valve spool. When both of the pair of discharge or returnports are used individually, the piping work becomes complex so that thepair of discharge ports are generally intercommunicated with each otherwithin the solenoid body and the discharge pipe is connected only to oneof the pair of discharge ports in practice. As a result, there is adifference in distance between the intake ports from the chambers onboth sides of the valve spool so that the back pressures, due to theresistances of the passages from the intake ports to the ports forconnection with the external pipes through the communication passagesformed in the subplates and solenoid valve, cause a difference inpressures acting upon the ends of the valve spool. Therefore, the valvespool is switched, even when the solenoid of the valve is not energized,at some flow rate or the spool valve will not return to its neutralposition even when the solenoid of the valve is deenergized, thusresulting in an abnormal temperature rise or burning.

- SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention was made to overcomethe above and other defects encountered in the prior art integratedvalve systems, and provides an integrated multiple valve unit which maybe used as a module of hydraulic circuit components and may serve toprovide a uniform pipe arrangement and to facilitate the assembly.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the present invention the integratedmultiple valve unit generally comprises a subplate provided with aplurality of valve assembly mounting seats spaced apart from each otherby a predetermined distance, and a plurality of stacks each comprising aplurality of valve assemblies, which effect various functions dependingupon the circuit requirements, and a solenoid valve mounted in the ordernamed upon the subplate. In each of the mounting seats and in each ofthe valve assemblies, a supply port, a discharge port and a pair ofintake ports, which are used in connection with an actuator or the like,are formed in the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports ofthe solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed aplurality of intake ports communicated with those in the mounting seats,respectively, and spaced apart from each other by a predetermineddistance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between theadjacent mounting seats. All of the intake and discharge or return portsin the mounting seats are communicated with a common supply port and acommon discharge port formed in the subplate. Therefore, when thedesired valve assemblies are stacked upon the subplate together with thesolenoid valves, a module including the desired hydraulic circuitcomponents may be provided.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an integratedmultiple valve unit in which a stop and nonreturn valve assembly with orwithout a relief valve assembly is mounted upon the subplate, and

' other valve assemblies and a solenoid valve are stacked over the stopand nonreturn valve assembly so that even when a breakdown of theassociated hydraulic circuit, valve assemblies or solenoid valve occur,it may be repaired without stopping the other normal hydraulic circuits.The stop and nonreturn valve assembly comprises a stop valve which isdisposed in the supply port and is operable from the exterior of thevalve assembly to close the supply port in case of emergency, and anonreturn valve disposed in the discharge or return port. In the reliefvalve assembly, a relief valve is interposed between the supply anddischarge ports.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integratedmultiple valve unit in which at least one valve assembly of the type inwhich a pair of discharge ports are intercommunicated, is inserted ineach hydraulic circuit so that the problem of the difference inpressures acting on the opposite ends of the valve spool may beeliminated, thereby preventing the erratic operation or breakdown suchas burning of the coils of the solenoid valves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integratedmultiple valve unit in which adjacent to a valve assembly to be remotecontrolled there is disposed a valve assembly of the type in which thesupply port or one of the intake ports is disconnected at the midpointin the valve plate opposed to the other valve assemblies and is extendedthrough the valve plate and communicated with connection ports openingon both sides of the valve plate for connection with a remote- BRIEFDESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an integrated multiplevalve unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a subplate thereof, fabricated by casting;

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are respective sectional views taken along the lines5 5, 6 6, 7 7 and 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a subplate fabricated by machining;

FIGS. 10, 11., 12 and 13 are respective front views of a fourth, third,second, and first plate which constitute together the subplate shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly fora supply port;

FIG. 15 is a partly broken-away side view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a control valve assembly for an intake port;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17 17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a stop and nonreturn valve assembly;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are respective sectional views taken along the lines 1919 and 20 20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly foran intake prot having a passage;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an intercommunication valve assembly;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a joint or connection valve assembly forconnecting a supply port to an exterior pipe;

FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 are sectional views taken along the lines 24 24, 2525 and 26 26 of FIG. 23, respectively;

FIG. 27 is a front view of a connection valve assembly for connecting anintake port to an exterior pipe; and

FIGS. 28 and 29 are sectional views taken along the lines 28 28 and 2929 of FIG. 27, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate abuilt-up type integrated multiple valve unit as assembled and generallyindicated by 30 in accordance with the present invention. The multipleintegrated valve unit 30 generally comprises a subplate 40, a pluralityof variable kinds of valve assemblies a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 70g,and solenoid valves 80. The valve assemblies 70 are mounted and stackedupon the subplate 40 and thereafter the solenoid valves are mounted uponthe stacked valve assemblies 70, as will be described in more detailhereinafter.

The subplate 40 of the first embodimentis formed by casting. As bestshown in FIGS. 3 8, a plurality of valve mounting seats 41 (only threeseats being shown) are formed in the subplate 40 spaced apart by adistance land in each seat 41 are formed a supply port 42, a dischargeport 43 and two intake ports 44 and 45 in such a manner that they matewith those of the solenoid valve 80 of a standard type. As best shown inFIG. 4, intake ports 50 and 51 are formed at the rear surface of thesubplate 40 in zigzag position and spaced apart from each other by [/2(which equals half the spacing 1 between the seats 41) both horizontallyand vertically, and are communicated with the intake ports 44 and 45through passages 48 and 49, respectively. At the lower portion of thesubplate 40 are formed a supply port 52 and a discharge port 53 spacedapart by 1/2 from each other and the lowermost intake port 51. Thesupply and discharge ports 52 and 53 are communicated with the supplyand discharge ports 42 and 43 in the seats 41 through a supply passage54 and a discharge passage 55, respectively, and through branch passages56 and 57 (see FIG. 6).

In summary, the supply and discharge ports in the valve mounting seats41 are communicated through the passages 54 and 55 and the branchpassages 56 and 57 with the supply and discharge ports 52 and 53 whichopen at the two surfaces of the subplate 40, and the intake ports 44 and45 are communicated through the passages 48 and 49 with the intake ports50 and 51 which open at the rear surface of the subplate 40. Therefore,in casting the cores may be placedin the positions of the supply anddischarge ports 42 and 43, the intake ports 44 and 45, and 50 and 51 andthe supply and discharge ports 52 and 53. Since the passages 54 and 55have a considerable length, the subplate 40 will be broken when morethan three stacks of valve assemblies are mounted on the subplate unlessthe undersurface of the subplate is supported. Therefore according tothe present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, openings 58 and 59 are formedin the undersurface of the subplate 40 so that suitable core supportsmay be inserted into these openings 58 and 59. After the subplate 40 isremoved out of the die, the valve mounting seats 41,

the ports 50 and 51, the openings 58 and 59, and flanges 60 are machinedso as to provide the desired smooth finished surfaces. Thereafter, thesupply and discharge ports 42 and 43 and' the intake ports 44 and 45 arefinished with a drill, and the intake ports 50 and 51, the supply anddischarge ports 52 and 53, and the openings 58 and 59 are internallythreaded for connection with pipes and blind plugs. Holes 61 are drilledin the flanges 60 for inserting the bolts or like for mounting thesubplate 40. Four tapped holes 46 are formed in the valve mounting seats41 for mounting the standard type solenoid valves 80, and two tappedholes 47 are also formed for mounting other valves 70. The positions ofthese tapped holes must be so selected that they will not communicatewith the passages 48 and 49 and the supply and discharge passages 54 and55.

The supply and discharge ports 52 and 53 open both at the top surfaceand undersurface of the subplate 40 so that one of the openings at thetop surface or at the undersurface may be closed with blind plugs,depending upon the connection with the supply and discharge pipe lines.This means that the supply and discharge pipe lines may be connectedeither at the top or under sides of the subplate 40. The openings 58 and59 may be closed with blind plugs or may be used for connection with apressure gage or the like.

Next referring to FIGS. 13, the method of fabricating the subplate bymachining will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, zigzag intake ports150 and 151 are drilled in a fourth plate 104 spaced apart by l/2 inboth vertical and horizontal directions. Supply and discharge ports 152and 153 are also drilled at the lower portion spaced apart by l/2 withrespect to each other and to the lowermost intake port 151. As shown inFIG. 11, two grooves 154a and 155a are formed in a third plate 103 todefine the supply and discharge passages, and passages 148a and 149a arealso formed at the positions corresponding to the intake ports 150 and151 of the fourth plate 104. As shown in FIG. 12, two elongated grooves154b and 155b, which mate with the grooves 154a and 155b of the thirdplate 103 to define the supply and discharge passages, are formed in asecond plate 102. I-Ioles 148b and 149b are drilled at the positionscorresponding to the grooves 148a and 149a of the third plate 103. Asshown in FIG. 13, a first plate 101 is provided with supply anddischarge ports 142 and 143 at the positions corresponding to thegrooves l54b and 155b of the second plate 102 and the grooves 154a and155a of the second plate 102. These supply and discharge ports 142 and143 are so positioned as to mate with those of the standard typesolenoid valves. Intake ports 144 and 145 are drilled slantingly, andtapped holes 146 and 147 are formed for mounting the solenoid valves.The supply and discharge ports 152a and 153a are drilled at thepositions corresponding to the lower ends of the grooves 154a and 155aof the second plate 102. Flanges 160 with holes 161 for mounting areformed at both sides of the first plate 101. These first, second, third,and fourth plates 101, 102, 103 and 104 are stacked in the order namedand firmly joined together by any suitable welding method to provide thesubplate 140 as shown inFIG. 9. Thus, the subplate may be fabricated byresorting only to machining such as automatic gas cutting, drilling andthe like.

Next the valve assembly mounted on the subplate 40 or 140 will bedescribed hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a supply port 72a, adischarge port 73a, intake ports 74a and 75a and mounting holes 76a aredrilled in a valve plate 710. The positions of these ports and holes areso selected as to mate with the corresponding ports and holes of thestandard type solenoid valve 80. A relief valve 78a may be disposedbetween the supply and discharge ports 72a and 73a to provide a reliefvalve assembly 70a for the supply port. A control valve assembly 70b isillustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. The supply and discharge ports 72b and73b, the intake ports 74b and 75b and the mounting holes 76b are drilledin a manner described above, and between the intake ports 74b and 75bare interposed flow control valves 78b and 79b. In like manner, variousvalve assemblies which afford various different functions may beprovided.

These assemblies 70 are stacked upon the subplate 40 or 140, and thesolenoid valves 80 are mounted on the stacks of the valve assemblies 70,and thereafter they are securely mounted upon the subplate 40 or withscrews and bolts and nuts, the bolts being inserted through the mountingholes 76 and screws through tapped holes 46 and 146. Thus, the supplyand discharge ports 52 and 152 and 53 and 153, the intake ports 50 and51 or 150 and 151, the supply ports 42 and 142, the discharge port 43 or143, and the intake ports 44 and 45 or 144 or 145 are respectivelycommunicated with the corresponding ports of the solenoid valves throughthe corresponding ports 72, 73, 74, and 75 of the valve assemblies 70.With the desired valve assemblies 70 interposed between the solenoidvalves 80 and the subplate 40 and 140, a desired hydraulic circuitmodule may be provided. Since the intake ports 50 and 51 or and 151 andthe supply and discharge ports 52 and 152 and 53 and 153 are opened inthe undersurface of the subplate 40 or 140 in equally spaced apartrelation, the pipes may be connected to them also in equally spacedapart relation in a simple manner.

If the breakdown of one circuit occurs in the integrated multiple valveunit, it cannot be repaired without stopping other normal circuits.Therefore, accord ing to the present invention, a stop valve andnonreturn valve assembly 70c as shown in FIGS. 18 20 may be interposedbetween the subplate 40 or 140 and the in-

1. An integrated multiple valve unit, comprising a subplate having oneside provided with a plurality of mounting seats spaced by apredetermined distance from one another and each formed with anindividual supply port, an individual discharge port and individualintake ports, an other side provided with a plurality of zigzag intakeports spaced by a distance equal to one half of said predetermineddistance in longitudinal and transverse direction of said subplate andcommunicating with said individual intake ports, a joint supply portcommunicating with all of said individual supply ports, and a jointdischarge port communicating with all of said individual dischargeports; and a plurality of valve stacks each comprising a valve platemounted on one of said valve seats and having a valve plate supply port,a valve plate discharge port and valve plate intake ports communicatingwith respective ports of said subplate at said one side thereof, ahydraulic valve assembly on said valve plate and communicating withrespective ones of said valve plate ports, and a solenoid valve mountedon said valve assembly and communicating via the same with respectiveones of said valve plate ports, said valve unit having said portsarranged in a configuration permitting the interposition of a devicebetween said subplate and said valve assembly which includes a stopvalve and a nonreturn valve assembly, whereby selected members of saidvalve assemblies can be isolated without the necessity to cut off theentire integrated multiple valve unit.
 2. An integrated valve unit asdefined in claim 1, wherein each mounting seat is further provided withadditional tapped holes; and wherein said stop valve assembly hascooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tapped holesof said valve assembly mounting seat, and a stop valve disposed in saidsupply port, said nonreturn valve assembly being disposed in saiddischarge port.
 3. An integrated valve assembly as defined in claim 1,wherein each mounting seat is further provided with additional tappedholes; and said valve assemblies include a joint valve assembly whichhas cooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tappedholes, and a joint port intercommunicated with one of said supply,discharge and intake ports.
 4. An integrated valve unit as defined inclaim 1, wherein said valve assemblies include a valve assembly having apair of valve assembly discharge ports and a passage intercommunicatingthe same.
 5. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1; and furthercomprising mounting means in form of registering tapped holes providedin said subplate at the respective valve seats thereof, in said valveplate, and in said solenoid valve.